Stephen Sorokoff - Page 48

David Lutken and Friends gave the Mr. Finn's Cabaret audience some great Folk/Country music last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland concert series had all the traffic Monday night as Klea Blackhurst brought her hit concert, 'Everything the Traffic Will Allow' to the Birdland stage.This is Blackhurst's loving tribute to the songs made famous by the quintessential stage personality Ethel Merman. Not an impersonator and not an impressionist, Blackhurst offered a paean to the great Broadway legend that serves as a potent and happy reminder of Merman's sheer, undeniable importance to both the history of twentieth century entertainment and the iconic composers like Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Jerry Herman, who wrote songs just for her.

Randy Graff won a Tony and Drama Desk award for City of Angels, originated the role of Fantine in the original Broadway company of Les Miserables and has been in Fiddler on the Roof, High Society, Falsettos, Moon Over Buffalo, and A Class Act. Musically and theatrically Randy Graff is also a class act and one of the best Cabaret performances you will ever see. Her voice, phrasing and tonality are perfection and it's encased in a Cabaret Act that is full of wit, humor, and drama as she chronicles her life from Brooklyn to Broadway.  You can't take the subway to get to Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage, but if you travel to Pittsfield MA., you're going to see one of the best.

Brian Worsdale the Artistic Director and Conductor of the French Woods Symphony Orchestra invited his buddy Steven Reineke, musical director and conductor of The New York Pops to bring some friends to share a day of music at summer camp and visit French Woods Festival. As usual, BroadwayWorld also came to camp. Check out photos from the event below!

Last night Barrington Stage Company presented the World Premiere of Engagements by Lucy Teitler and BroadwayWorld was there. Directed by Louisa Proske (BSC debut), Engagements stars (in their BSC debuts) Amanda Quaid (Irish Rep's The Weir) as Lauren, Kate Loprest (First Date) as Allison, Adam Gerber (George Street Playhouse The Whipping Man) as Ryan, Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening) as Catherine, and Robert David Grant (Yale Rep Hamlet) as Mark.

Some more music history was made on the Birdland stage last night and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. Two entertainers who have never performed together were on the Birdland stage last night.  For those of us who were in the audience for this under the radar/radio event, it turned out to be a not to be forgotten evening that added to the long list of Birdland historic musical moments.  Ann Hampton Callaway taped the first segment of her new radio program "This Is Cabaret" and had as her guest at the inaugural show none other than Steve Tyrell, a legend in the world of male pop/jazz singers.  His unique sensual voice is unmistakable and loved by millions via his recordings, movie soundtracks, and live appearances.  Steve is also a walking Wikipedia of the recording industry because of his career as a recording executive and producer.  He was there for many momentous musical creations as head of A&R for Scepter Records. Tyrell's singing "The Way You Look Tonight" in the Father of the Bride movie starring Steve Martin made him a household name. 

Shakespeare & Company presented the first full American production of Red Velvet, written by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Daniela Varon, and starring OBIE Award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson last night and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. This powerful and emotional drama joins the Tina Packer Playhouse repertory and runs through September 13. Check out photos from the production below!

Opening Night of the American screwball comedy His Girl Friday, John Guare's adaptation of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's original play The Front Page and the screen version of His Girl Friday took place at Barrington Stage Co. and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. Julianned Boyd artistic director of BSC was the director.

Due to popular demand, Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, had to add a second performance  for Elizabeth Stanley's "I Get Carried Away" show at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

Linda Lavin and musician/director/actor/painter/writer husband Steve Bakunas walked the Red Carpet a few days ago at the Broadway Opening of Hamilton and then drove up the carpet of Green to their home in the Berkshires to perform at Lee Tannen's Helsinki on Broadway and of course BroadwayWorld was at both events. This summer the East Coast is getting treated to Linda Lavin and Billy Stritch as Linda has brought her show titled Starting Over and her swinging band to PTown, the Hudson Valley, and on September 16th to Guild Hall in East Hampton. At Helsinki on Broadway last night Linda was the star of the show, but the food at Helsinki Hudson definitely also gets top billing.

Last night, Shakespeare & Company presented the world premiere of Mother of the Maid, a powerful and wry drama by Emmy award-winning writer, producer and director Jane Anderson, starring Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, directed by Matthew Penn, and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was on the scene. Check out pics from the evening below!

Rick Murray and The Crown & Anchor presented Tony and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin to a wildly enthusiastic Provincetown audience last night and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. In her cabaret show titled Starting Over, Linda with her musical directer Billy Stritch (who also supplied vocals) brought the packed Crown and Anchor Cabaret Room to it's feet many times during their exciting performance.  Also receiving a standing ovation was Jazz Violinist Aaron Weinstein who is a mainstay in Linda's act.  Jazz guitarist Ron Affif, bassist Steve Doyle and husband Steve Bakunas on drums and vocals executed Billy Stritch's magical arrangements perfectly.  

Susan Werner the composer/performer icon of the Pop/Jazz/Folk world made her 9th appearance in the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, New York alongside Judy Collins. Of course BroadwayWorld was on the scene to bring you photos of the event, so check them out below!

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presented Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley in Broadway and Beyond on last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Broadway's Golden Couple shared their favorite songs from the Broadway musicals they've starred in along with selections from the Great American Songbook."

William Shakespeare's hilarious farce, The Comedy of Errors is playing at the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Ma. and Broadwayworld attended a performance. Director Taibi Magar delivers a whirlwind of magic, music and mayhem in the rollicking production of Shakespeare's shortest comedy. Performances run through August 23.

Last night the Barrington Stage Company Musical Theatre Lab presented the East Coast Premiere of Nick Blaemire's A Little More Alive on the St. Germain Stage of the Sydelle & Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center and Broadwayworld was there.

Alysha Umphress has a special relationship with Barrington Stage Company and William Finn so it wasn't a surprise that on her day off  from On The Town she came to Pittsfield and sang in Mr. Finn's Cabaret.  It also wasn't a surprise the demand for tickets was so great that a second late show had to be added.  

Lost in Yonkers  opened at Barrington Stage Company last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The show is running through August 1. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize, Lost in Yonkers is a heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age story by America's great comic playwright, Neil Simon.  Jenn Thompson makes her BSC directing debut.  She is the Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Company Theatre (TACT) in NYC, where she recently directed Beth Henley's Abundance.

Last night was the American Premiere of Carey Perfloff's Kinship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) and BroadwayWorld was there.

Playwright John Guare recently met with the Press to discuss the Barrington Stage Company production of his adaptation of the classic American comedy HIS GIRL FRIDAY.  Julianne Boyd, the artistic director of BSC will also be directing the production which will be on Barrington Stage's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage from Aug 6-30. Opening night is Wednesday, Aug 12.  Director Julianne Boyd and actors Christopher Innvar and Jane Pfitsch joined Mr. Guare for the Press Conference in which they all took questions.